It was Black Saturday when we visited Tinglayan in Kalinga Province. We were able to attend the anticipated Easter Sunday mass in the village of Luplupa's church. The celebration started outside the church with the burning of some woods where the paschal candle was lit. Surrounded by the locals, prayers were recited in celebration of Easter. Then we went inside the church for the mass.
The poblacion has a church which serves as the town's church, but the church in Luplupa is the town's old church. Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, it has a very simple facade and altar. The priest who celebrated the mass came all the way from Baguio City. The mass was in their dialect with some parts done in English.
After the mass, our guide, German, said that we will be going to a house where there's a pre-wedding ritual happening.
According to our guide, a wedding ritual lasts for about 3 days. It is done before, during and after the wedding. With a very small community, the sound of the gongs or "gangsa" played for their traditional dance and rituals was heard all over the village.
According to some sources from the internet, the "Kalinga Festival Dance" is called "Tachok", derived from the word "payok" which means the expression of one's happiness or victory. The dance imitates the movements of birds and it is performed to celebrate a happy occasion such as the birth of a first-born baby boy, a wedding, or a budong (peace pact).
Being able to join the community in celebrating Easter and a wedding is such a wonderful experience. I was just so happy to be there and to join them in these occasions. Indeed, the Kalinga people are one of the friendliest people I've met on my travels. Thank you for being so hospitable and accommodating to us.
HOW TO GET THERE
Option 1: Via Banaue and Bontoc
From Manila, take a bus bound for Banaue. Travel time is 8-9 hours, fare is 450 pesos. Ohayami bus offers daily trips to Banaue, their terminal is located in Lacson Avenue, corner Fajardo St., Sampaloc Manila (near University of Sto. Tomas). From Banaue, take a jeepney bound for Bontoc, travel time is about 3 hours and fare is around 200 pesos. At Bontoc, take a bus bound for Tabuk that passes by the town of Tinglayan. The bus leaves at 9:00 AM and their terminal is found near Mountain Province State Polytechnic College. Travel time is around 2.5 to 3 hours, fare is 110 pesos.
Option 2: Via Tabuk
From Manila, take a bus bound for Tabuk via Victory Liner in Kamias. Fare is around 570 pesos and travel time is 12 hours. Alternatively, you can take a Tuguegarao bound bus and then take a van bound for Tabuk. In Tabuk, take a jeepney or an ordinary bus bound for Bontoc which passes by the town of Tinglayan. Terminal can be found in front of the police station across St. William’s Cathedral. Travel time is about 2.5 to 3 hours and fare is around 110 pesos.
| This is part of my Holy Week and Araw ng Kagitingan long weekend holiday trip in Ifugao, Mt. Province and Kalinga last April 5-9, 2012. Kalinga, a landlocked province in the Cordillera Administrative Region is the 60th province on my list. Join me as I continue my journey to visit all 80 provinces in the Philippines! | |
 Map By: Wikipedia |
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Nice experience for you Mervz and the culture is still preserved.
ReplyDeleteSee you again :)
I remember the Easter mass my family and I attended in Boracay in 2000...the church was half finished, the locals were so enthusiastic during the exchange of peace with one old lady kissing and hugging me but there was a different kind of ritual outside the church grounds(traumatic!)
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